Method and System for Mobile Receiver Antenna Architecture for European Band Cellular and Broadcasting Services

ABSTRACT

A method for an antenna architecture that handles European band cellular and broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprise receiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal, RF signals in a first cellular frequency band of a first cellular network via an antenna. The antenna may be coupled to a second RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal capable of handling RF signals in one or more other cellular frequency bands of at least a second cellular network. A third RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal coupled to the antenna may be capable of handling the received RF signals in a UHF broadcast band.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/863,003 filed on Sep. 27, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/010,883 filed on Dec. 13, 2004, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 7,313,414 on Dec. 25, 2007, which makes reference to:

-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,991, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,286,794 on Oct. 23, 2007;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,847, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,461, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,165 on Oct. 28, 2008;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,877, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,450,900 on Nov. 11, 2008;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,914, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,486, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,903, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,324,832 on Jan. 29, 2008;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/011,009, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,855, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,743, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,242,960 on Jul. 10, 2007;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,983, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/011,000, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,681, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,483,716 on Jan. 27, 2009;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/011,006, filed Dec. 13, 2004;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,487, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,430,438 on Sep. 30, 2008;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,481, filed Dec. 13, 2004,    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,421,244 on Sep. 2, 2008; and-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,524, filed Dec. 13, 2004.

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to mobile receivers. Morespecifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a methodand system for mobile receiver antenna architecture that supportsEuropean band cellular services and broadcasting services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Broadcasting and telecommunications have historically occupied separatefields. In the past, broadcasting was largely an “over-the-air” mediumwhile wired media carried telecommunications. That distinction may nolonger apply as both broadcasting and telecommunications may bedelivered over either wired or wireless media. Present development mayadapt broadcasting to mobility services. One limitation has been thatbroadcasting may often require high bit rate data transmission at rateshigher than could be supported by existing mobile communicationsnetworks. However, with emerging developments in wireless communicationstechnology, even this obstacle may be overcome.

Terrestrial television and radio broadcast networks have made use ofhigh power transmitters covering broad service areas, which enableone-way distribution of content to user equipment such as televisionsand radios. By contrast, wireless telecommunications networks have madeuse of low power transmitters, which have covered relatively small areasknown as “cells”. Unlike broadcast networks, wireless networks may beadapted to provide two-way interactive services between users of userequipment such as telephones and computer equipment.

The introduction of cellular communications systems in the late 1970'sand early 1980's represented a significant advance in mobilecommunications. The networks of this period may be commonly known asfirst generation, or “1G” systems. These systems were based upon analog,circuit-switching technology, the most prominent of these systems mayhave been the advanced mobile phone system (AMPS). Second generation, or“2G” systems ushered improvements in performance over 1G systems andintroduced digital technology to mobile communications. Exemplary 2Gsystems include the global system for mobile communications (GSM),digital AMPS (D-AMPS), and code division multiple access (CDMA). Many ofthese systems have been designed according to the paradigm of thetraditional telephony architecture, often focused on circuit-switchedservices, voice traffic, and supported data transfer rates up to 14.4kbits/s. Higher data rates were achieved through the deployment of“2.5G” networks, many of which were adapted to existing 2G networkinfrastructures. The 2.5G networks began the introduction ofpacket-switching technology in wireless networks. However, it is theevolution of third generation, or “3G” technology that may introducefully packet-switched networks, which support high-speed datacommunications.

The general packet radio service (GPRS), which is an example of a 2.5Gnetwork service oriented for data communications, comprises enhancementsto GSM that required additional hardware and software elements inexisting GSM network infrastructures. Where GSM may allot a single timeslot in a time division multiple access (TDMA) frame, GPRS may allot upto 8 such time slots providing a data transfer rate of up to 115.2kbits/s. Another 2.5G network, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution(EDGE), also comprises enhancements to GSM, and like GPRS, EDGE mayallocate up to 8 time slots in a TDMA frame for packet-switched, orpacket mode, transfers. However, unlike GPRS, EDGE adapts 8 phase shiftkeying (8-PSK) modulation to achieve data transfer rates that may be ashigh as 384 kbits/s.

The universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) is an adaptationof a 3G system, which is designed to offer integrated voice, multimedia,and Internet access services to portable user equipment. The UMTS adaptswideband CDMA (W-CDMA) to support data transfer rates, which may be ashigh as 2 Mbits/s. One reason why W-CDMA may support higher data ratesis that W-CDMA channels may have a bandwidth of 5 MHz versus the 200 kHzchannel bandwidth in GSM. A related 3G technology, high speed downlinkpacket access (HSDPA), is an Internet protocol (IP) based serviceoriented for data communications, which adapts W-CDMA to support datatransfer rates of the order of 10 Mbits/s. HSDPA achieves higher datarates through a plurality of methods. For example, many transmissiondecisions may be made at the base station level, which is much closer tothe user equipment as opposed to being made at a mobile switching centeror office. These may include decisions about the scheduling of data tobe transmitted, when data are to be retransmitted, and assessments aboutthe quality of the transmission channel. HSDPA may also utilize variablecoding rates in transmitted data. HSDPA also supports 16-levelquadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) over a high-speed downlinkshared channel (HS-DSCH), which permits a plurality of users to share anair interface channel.

The multiple broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) is an IP datacastservice, which may be deployed in EDGE and UMTS networks. The impact ofMBMS is largely within the network in which a network element adapted toMBMS, the broadcast multicast service center (BM-SC), interacts withother network elements within a GSM or UMTS system to manage thedistribution of content among cells within a network. User equipment maybe required to support functions for the activation and deactivation ofMBMS bearer service. MBMS may be adapted for delivery of video and audioinformation over wireless networks to user equipment. MBMS may beintegrated with other services offered over the wireless network torealize multimedia services, such as multicasting, which may requiretwo-way interaction with user equipment.

Standards for digital television terrestrial broadcasting (DTTB) haveevolved around the world with different systems being adopted indifferent regions. The three leading DTTB systems are, the advancedstandards technical committee (ATSC) system, the digital video broadcastterrestrial (DVB-T) system, and the integrated service digitalbroadcasting terrestrial (ISDB-T) system. The ATSC system has largelybeen adopted in North America, South America, Taiwan, and South Korea.This system adapts trellis coding and 8-level vestigial sideband (8-VSB)modulation. The DVB-T system has largely been adopted in Europe, theMiddle East, Australia, as well as parts of Africa and parts of Asia.The DVB-T system adapts coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(COFDM). The ISDB-T system has been adopted in Japan and adaptsbandwidth segmented transmission orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (BST-OFDM). The various DTTB systems may differ inimportant aspects; some systems employ a 6 MHz channel separation, whileothers may employ 7 MHz or 8 MHz channel separations. Planning for theallocation of frequency spectrum may also vary among countries with somecountries integrating frequency allocation for DTTB services into theexisting allocation plan for legacy analog broadcasting systems. In suchinstances, broadcast towers for DTTB may be co-located with broadcasttowers for analog broadcasting services with both services beingallocated similar geographic broadcast coverage areas. In othercountries, frequency allocation planning may involve the deployment ofsingle frequency networks (SFNs), in which a plurality of towers,possibly with overlapping geographic broadcast coverage areas (alsoknown as “gap fillers”), may simultaneously broadcast identical digitalsignals. SFNs may provide very efficient use of broadcast spectrum as asingle frequency may be used to broadcast over a large coverage area incontrast to some of the conventional systems, which may be used foranalog broadcasting, in which gap fillers transmit at differentfrequencies to avoid interference.

Even among countries adopting a common DTTB system, variations may existin parameters adapted in a specific national implementation. Forexample, DVB-T not only supports a plurality of modulation schemes,comprising quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 16-QAM, and 64 levelQAM (64-QAM), but DVB-T offers a plurality of choices for the number ofmodulation carriers to be used in the COFDM scheme. The “2K” modepermits 1,705 carrier frequencies that may carry symbols, each with auseful duration of 224 μs for an 8 MHz channel. In the “8K” mode thereare 6,817 carrier frequencies, each with a useful symbol duration of 896μs for an 8 MHz channel. In SFN implementations, the 2K mode may providecomparatively higher data rates but smaller geographical coverage areasthan may be the case with the 8K mode. Different countries adopting thesame system may also employ different channel separation schemes.

While 3G systems are evolving to provide integrated voice, multimedia,and data services to mobile user equipment, there may be compellingreasons for adapting DTTB systems for this purpose. One of the morenotable reasons may be the high data rates that may be supported in DTTBsystems. For example, DVB-T may support data rates of 15 Mbits/s in an 8MHz channel in a wide area SFN. There are also significant challenges indeploying broadcast services to mobile user equipment. Many handheldportable devices, for example, may require that services consume minimumpower to extend battery life to a level, which may be acceptable tousers. Another consideration is the Doppler effect in moving userequipment, which may cause inter-symbol interference in receivedsignals. Among the three major DTTB systems, ISDB-T was originallydesigned to support broadcast services to mobile user equipment. WhileDVB-T may not have been originally designed to support mobilitybroadcast services, a number of adaptations have been made to providesupport for mobile broadcast capability. The adaptation of DVB-T tomobile broadcasting is commonly known as DVB handheld (DVB-H).

To meet requirements for mobile broadcasting the DVB-H specification maysupport time slicing to reduce power consumption at the user equipment,addition of a 4K mode to enable network operators to make tradeoffsbetween the advantages of the 2K mode and those of the 8K mode, and anadditional level of forward error correction on multiprotocolencapsulated data—forward error correction (MPE-FEC) to make DVB-Htransmissions more robust to the challenges presented by mobilereception of signals and to potential limitations in antenna designs forhandheld user equipment. DVB-H may also use the DVB-T modulationschemes, like QPSK and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM),which may be most resilient to transmission errors. MPEG audio and videoservices may be more resilient to error than data, thus additionalforward error correction may not be required to meet DTTB serviceobjectives.

Time slicing may reduce power consumption in user equipment byincreasing the burstiness of data transmission. Instead of transmittingdata at the received rate, under time slicing techniques, thetransmitter may delay the sending of data to user equipment and senddata later but at a higher bit rate. This may reduce total datatransmission time over the air, time, which may be used to temporarilypower down the receiver at the user equipment. Time slicing may alsofacilitate service handovers as user equipment moves from one cell toanother because the delay time imposed by time slicing may be used tomonitor transmitters in neighboring cells. The MPE-FEC may compriseReed-Solomon coding of IP data packets, or packets using other dataprotocols. The 4K mode in DVB-H may utilize 3,409 carriers, each with auseful duration of 448 μs for an 8 MHz channel. The 4K mode may enablenetwork operators to realize greater flexibility in network design atminimum additional cost. Importantly, DVB-T and DVB-H may coexist in thesame geographical area. Transmission parameter signaling (TPS) bits thatare carried in the header of transmitted messages may indicate whether agiven DVB transmission is DVB-T or DVB-H, in addition to indicatingwhether DVB-H specific features, such as time slicing, or MPE-FEC are tobe performed at the receiver. As time slicing may be a mandatory featureof DVB-H, an indication of time slicing in the TPS may indicate that thereceived information is from a DVB-H service.

W-CDMA is one of the third-generation radio interface technologies thathas been optimized for wide-band radio access, to support high-speedmultimedia services such as video conferencing and the Internet, as wellas voice calls. W-CDMA may allow the wireless bandwidth to be tailoredto the needs of each individual call, whether it is in a voice, data ormultimedia format and it may be able to handle both packet andcircuit-switched services. The broadcast channel may comprise severallogical channels that may be multiplexed onto one communications channelthat is continuously broadcast from a cell site and provides the mobileterminal with system information, lists of neighboring radio channelsand other system configuration information.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for an antenna architecture that handles European band cellularand broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprisereceiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna,where the first signals comprise signals within a 2100 MHz band. Themethod may further comprise receiving at a second RFIC integrated withinthe mobile terminal, second signals via the first antenna, where thesecond signals comprise signals within at least one of a 1800 MHz bandand a 900 MHz band and receiving at a third RFIC integrated within themobile terminal, third signals via the first antenna, where the thirdsignals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band. The first RFICmay be a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC. The second RFIC may be a GSM RFIC and thethird RFIC may be a DVB RFIC.

In another embodiment of the invention, a system for an antennaarchitecture that handles European band cellular and broadcast channelsmay be provided. The system may comprise a first radio frequencyintegrated circuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal coupled toat least a first antenna capable of handling signals within the 2100 MHzband. A second RFIC may be integrated within the mobile terminal coupledto the first antenna capable of handling signals within the 1800 MHzband and the 900 MHz band. A third RFIC may be integrated within themobile terminal coupled to the first antenna capable of handling signalswithin the VHF/UHF broadcast band. The first RFIC may be a WCDMA/HSDPARFIC. The second RFIC may be a GSM RFIC and the third RFIC may be a DVBRFIC.

The system may comprise circuitry that couples the first RFIC to thefirst antenna via a first switch and a diplexer. The second RFIC may becoupled to the first antenna via the first switch and the diplexer. Thethird RFIC may be coupled to the first antenna via a second switch andthe diplexer. The second RFIC may also be coupled to the first antennavia the second switch and the diplexer. An output of the first RFIC maybe coupled to an input of at least a first amplifier. An output of thefirst amplifier may be coupled to an input of at least a first polyphasefilter. An output of the first polyphase filter may be coupled to aninput of the first switch. An output of the first switch may be coupledto an input of at least a second polyphase filter. An output of thesecond polyphase filter may be coupled to an input of at least a secondamplifier. An output of the second amplifier may be coupled to an inputof at least a third polyphase filter. An output of the third polyphasefilter may be coupled to an input of the first RFIC. The output of thefirst switch may be coupled to an input of at least a first bandpassfilter. An output of the first bandpass filter may be coupled to aninput of the second RFIC. An output of the second RFIC may be coupled toan input of at least a first transmit path bandpass filter. An output ofthe first transmit path band pass filter may be coupled to the input ofthe first switch. An output of the second RFIC may be coupled to aninput of at least a second transmit path bandpass filter. An output ofthe second transmit path bandpass filter may be coupled to an input ofat least a second switch. An output of the second switch may be coupledto an input of at least a second bandpass filter. An output of thesecond bandpass filter may be coupled to an input of the second RFIC.The output of the second switch may be coupled to an input of the thirdRFIC. The first antenna may be coupled to an input of the third RFIC.

A second antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a first switch anda diplexer. The second antenna may also be coupled to the second RFICvia the first switch and the diplexer. A third antenna may be coupled tothe third RFIC via at least a second switch and the diplexer. The thirdantenna may be coupled to the second RFIC via the second switch and thediplexer. The second antenna may be coupled to an input of the firstswitch. The third antenna may be coupled to an input of the secondswitch. The third antenna may be coupled to the input of the third RFICcapable of handling signals within the VHF/UHF broadcast band.

A fourth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a first polyphasefilter in a transmit path. The fourth antenna may be coupled to thefirst RFIC via a second polyphase filter in a receive path. The fourthantenna may be coupled to the input of the second polyphase filter. Theoutput of the first polyphase filter may be coupled to the fourthantenna. A fifth antenna may be coupled to the second RFIC via a firsttransmit path bandpass filter in a transmit path capable of handlingsignals within the 1800 MHz band. A sixth antenna may be coupled to thesecond RFIC via a second bandpass filter in a receive path capable ofhandling signals within the 900 MHz band. A seventh antenna may becoupled to the second RFIC via a second transmit path bandpass filter ina transmit path capable of handling signals within the 900 MHz band. Aneighth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a first polyphasefilter and a first amplifier in a transmit path capable of handlingsignals within the 2100 MHz band. The first amplifier may be a poweramplifier. A ninth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a secondpolyphase filter, a second amplifier and a third polyphase filter in areceive path capable of handling signals within the 2100 MHz band. Thesecond amplifier may be a low noise amplifier. A tenth antenna may becoupled to the second RFIC via a first bandpass filter in a receive pathcapable of handling signals within the 1800 MHz band.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for providingintegrated services between a cellular network and a digital videobroadcast network, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 c is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 d is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 e is a high-level block diagram of exemplary DVB-H receivercircuitry in a mobile terminal, which may be utilized in connection withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 f is a block diagram illustrating the sharing of a multiplexer(MUX) by a plurality of MPEG2 services, which may be utilized inconnection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of a mobile terminal that is adapted toreceive VHF/UHF broadcasts and cellular communications, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram illustrating receive processing circuit ofan RF integrated circuit (RFIC), in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration for a RFIC and a base band processing circuit, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver singleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver dual antennaarchitecture for European band cellular and broadcasting services with aseparate antenna for the DVB channel, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 4 c is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver dual antennaarchitecture for European band cellular and broadcasting services and adiplexer, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 d is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices and a diplexer and a separate antenna for the DVB channel, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 e is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices with separate antennas for the WCDMA 2100 channel, the GSM 1800MHz band transmit channel, the GSM 900 MHz band channel and the DVBchannel, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 f is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices with separate antennas for the WCDMA 2100 channel, the GSM 1800MHz band transmit channel, the GSM 900 MHz band receive channel, the GSM900 MHz band transmit channel and the DVB channel, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 g is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices with separate antennas for the WCDMA 2100 transmit channel, theWCDMA 2100 receive channel, the GSM 1800 MHz band receive channel, theGSM 1800 MHz band transmit channel, the GSM 900 MHz band receivechannel, the GSM 900 MHz band transmit channel and the DVB channel, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A method for an antenna architecture that handles European band cellularand broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprisereceiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna,where the first signals comprise signals within a 2100 MHz band. Themethod may further comprise receiving at a second RFIC integrated withinthe mobile terminal, second signals via the first antenna, where thesecond signals comprise signals within at least one of a 1800 MHz bandand a 900 MHz band and receiving at a third RFIC integrated within themobile terminal, third signals via the first antenna, where the thirdsignals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band.

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for providingintegrated services between a cellular network and a digital videobroadcast network, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 1 a, there is shown terrestrial broadcaster network102, wireless service provider network 104, service provider 106, portal108, public switched telephone network 110, and mobile terminals (MTs)116 a and 116 b. The terrestrial broadcaster network 102 may comprisetransmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer (Mux) 102 b, and information contentsource 114. The content source 114 may also be referred to as a datacarousel, which may comprise audio, data and video content. Theterrestrial broadcaster network 102 may also comprise VHF/UHF broadcastantennas 112 a and 112 b. The wireless service provider network 104 maycomprise mobile switching center (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality ofcellular base stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The terrestrial broadcaster network 102 may comprise suitable equipmentthat may be adapted to encode and/or encrypt data for transmission viathe transmitter 102 a. The transmitter 102 a in the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 may be adapted to utilize VHF/UHF broadcastchannels to communicate information to the mobile terminals 116 a, 116b. The multiplexer 102 b associated with the terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may be utilized to multiplex data from a plurality ofsources. For example, the multiplexer 102 b may be adapted to multiplexvarious types of information such as audio, video and/or data into asingle pipe for transmission by the transmitter 102 a. Content mediafrom the portal 108, which may be handled by the service provider 106may also be multiplexed by the multiplexer 102 b. The portal 108 may bean ISP service provider.

In one aspect of the invention, the terrestrial broadcaster network 102may be adapted to provide one or more digital television (DTV) channelsto the service provider 106. In this regard, the terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may comprise suitable high-speed or broadband interfacesthat may be utilized to facilitate transfer of the DTV channels from theterrestrial broadcast network 102 to the service provider. The serviceprovider 106 may then utilize at least a portion of the DTV channels toprovide television (TV) on demand service, or other similar types ofservices to the wireless service provider network 104. Accordingly, theservice provider 106 may further comprise suitable high-speed orbroadband interfaces that may be utilized to facilitate the transfer ofrelated TV on demand information to the MSC 118 a.

Although communication links between the terrestrial broadcast network102 and the service provider 106, and also the communication linksbetween the service provider 106 and the wireless service provider 104may be wired communication links, the invention may be not so limited.Accordingly, at least one of these communication links may be wirelesscommunication links. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, atleast one of these communication links may be an 802.x basedcommunication link such as 802.16 or WiMax broadband accesscommunication link. In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, atleast one of these connections may be a broadband line of sight (LOS)connection.

The wireless service provider network 104 may be a cellular or personalcommunication service (PCS) provider that may be adapted to handlebroadcast UMTS (B-UMTS). The term cellular as utilized herein refers toboth cellular and PCS frequencies bands. Hence, usage of the termcellular may comprise any band of frequencies that may be utilized forcellular communication and/or any band of frequencies that may beutilized for PCS communication. Notwithstanding, broadcast UMTS (B-UMTS)may also be referred to as MBMS. MBMS is a high-speed data service thatis overlaid on WCDMA to provide much higher data rates than may beprovided by core WCDMA. In this regard, the B-UMTS services may besuperimposed on the cellular or PCS network.

The wireless service provider network 104 may utilize cellular or PCSaccess technologies such as GSM, CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, AMPS, N-AMPS,and/or TDMA. The cellular network may be utilized to offerbi-directional services via uplink and downlink communication channels,while the B-UMTS or MBMS network may be utilized to provide aunidirectional broadband services via a downlink channel. The B-UMTS orMBMS unidirectional downlink channel may be utilized to broadcastcontent media and/or multimedia type information to the mobile terminals116 a and 116 b. Although MBMS provides only unidirectional downlinkcommunication, the invention may be not so limited. In this regard,other bidirectional communication methodologies comprising uplink anddownlink capabilities, whether symmetric or asymmetric, may be utilized.

Although the wireless service provider network 104 is illustrated as aGSM, CDMA, WCDMA based network and/or variants thereof, the invention isnot limited in this regard. Accordingly, the wireless service providernetwork 104 may be an 802.11 based wireless network or wireless localarea network (WLAN). The wireless service provider network 104 may alsobe adapted to provide 802.11 based wireless communication in addition toGSM, CDMA, WCDMA, CDMA2000 based network and/or variants thereof. Inthis case, the mobile terminals 116 a, 116 b may also be compliant withthe 802.11 based wireless network.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, if themobile terminal (MT) 116 a is within an operating range of the VHF/UHFbroadcasting antenna 112 a and moves out of the latter's operating rangeand into an operating range of the VHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 b,then VHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 b may be adapted to provideVHF/UHF broadcast services to the mobile terminal 116 a. If the mobileterminal 116 a subsequently moves back into the operating range of theVHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 a, then the broadcasting antenna 112 amay be adapted to provide VHF/UHF broadcasting service to the mobileterminal 116 a. In a somewhat similar manner, if the mobile terminal(MT) 116 b is within an operating range of the VHF/UHF broadcastingantenna 112 b and moves out of the latter's operating range and into anoperating range of the broadcasting antenna 112 a, then the VHF/UHFbroadcasting antenna 112 a may be adapted to provide VHF/UHFbroadcasting service to the mobile terminal 116 b. If the mobileterminal 116 b subsequently moves back into the operating range ofbroadcasting antenna 112 b, then the VHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 bmay be adapted to provide VHF/UHF broadcast services to the mobileterminal 116 b.

The service provider 106 may comprise suitable interfaces, circuitry,logic and/or code that may be adapted to facilitate communicationbetween the terrestrial broadcasting network 102 and the wirelesscommunication network 104. In an illustrative embodiment of theinvention the service provider 106 may be adapted to utilize itsinterfaces to facilitate exchange control information with theterrestrial broadcast network 102 and to exchange control informationwith the wireless service provider 104. The control informationexchanged by the service provider 106 with the terrestrial broadcastingnetwork 102 and the wireless communication network 104 may be utilizedto control certain operations of the mobile terminals, the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 and the wireless communication network 104.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the service provider106 may also comprise suitable interfaces, circuitry, logic and/or codethat may be adapted to handle network policy decisions. For example, theservice provider 106 may be adapted to manage a load on the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 and/or a load on the wireless service providernetwork 104. Load management may be utilized to distribute the flow ofinformation throughout the terrestrial broadcast network 102 and/or aload on the wireless service provider network 104. For example, ifinformation is to be broadcasted via the wireless service providernetwork 104 to a plurality of mobile terminals within a particular cellhandled by the base station 104 a and it is determined that this mayoverload the wireless service provider network 104, then the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 may be configured to broadcast the information tothe mobile terminals.

The service provider 106 may also be adapted to handle certain types ofservice requests, which may have originated from a mobile terminal. Forexample, the mobile terminal 116 a may request that information bedelivered to it via a downlink VHF/UHF broadcast channel. However, adownlink VHF/UHF broadcast channel may be unavailable for the deliveryof the requested information. As a result, the service provider 106 mayroute the requested information through an MBMS channel via the basestation 104 c to the mobile terminal 116 a. The requested informationmay be acquired from the content source 114 and/or the portal 108. Inanother example, the mobile terminal 116 b may request that informationbe delivered to it via a downlink cellular channel. However, the serviceprovider 106 may determine that delivery of the information is notcritical and/or the cheapest way to deliver to the mobile terminal 116 bis via a downlink VHF/UHF broadcast channel. As a result, the serviceprovider 106 may route the requested information from the portal 108 orcontent service 114 to the mobile terminal 116 b. The service provider106 may also have the capability to send at least a portion ofinformation to be delivered to, for example, mobile terminal 116 a viathe VHF/UHF broadcast channel and a remaining portion of the informationto be delivered via the cellular broadcast channel.

The portal 108 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code thatmay be adapted to provide content media to the service provider 106 viaone or more communication links. These communication links, although notshown, may comprise wired and/or wireless communication links. Thecontent media that may be provided by the portal 108 may comprise audio,data, video or any combination thereof. In this regard, the portal 108may be adapted to provide one or more specialized information servicesto the service provider 106.

The public switched telephone network (PSTN) 110 may be coupled to theMSC 118 a. Accordingly, the MSC 118 a may be adapted to switch callsoriginating from within the PSTN 110 to one or more mobile terminalsserviced by the wireless service provider 104. Similarly, the MSC 118 amay be adapted to switch calls originating from mobile terminalsserviced by the wireless service provider 104 to one or more telephonesserviced by the PSTN 110.

The information content source 114 may comprise a data carousel. In thisregard, the information content source 114 may be adapted to providevarious information services, which may comprise online data includingaudio, video and data content. The information content source 114 mayalso comprise file download, and software download capabilities. Ininstances where a mobile terminal fails to acquire requested informationfrom the information content source 114 or the requested information isunavailable, then the mobile terminal may acquire the requestedinformation via, for example, a B-UMTS from the portal 108. The requestmay be initiated through an uplink cellular communication path.

The mobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to handle the processing ofuplink and downlink cellular channels for various access technologiesand broadcast VHF/UHF technologies. In an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, the mobile terminals 116 a, 116 b may be adapted to utilizeone or more cellular access technologies such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA,WCDMA, CDMA2000, HSDPA and MBMS (B-UMTS). The mobile terminal may alsobe adapted to receive and process VHF/UHF broadcast signals in theVHF/UHF bands. For example, a mobile terminal may be adapted to receiveand process DVB-H signals. A mobile terminal may be adapted to requestinformation via a first cellular service and in response, receivecorresponding information via a VHF/UHF broadcast service. A mobileterminal may also be adapted to request information from a serviceprovider via a cellular service and in response, receive correspondinginformation via a data service, which is provided via the cellularservice. The mobile terminals may also be adapted to receive VHF/UHFbroadcast information from either the base stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c,104 d or the VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b. In instanceswhere a mobile terminal receives broadcast information from any of thebase stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, or 104 d via a downlink MBMScommunication channel, then the mobile terminal may communicatecorresponding uplink information via an uplink cellular communicationchannel.

In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal may be adapted toutilize a plurality of broadcast integrated circuits for receiving andprocessing VHF/UHF channels, and a plurality of cellular integratedcircuits for receiving and processing cellular or PCS channels. In thisregard, the plurality of cellular integrated circuits may be adapted tohandle different cellular access technologies. For example, at least oneof the cellular integrated circuits may be adapted to handle GSM, and atleast one of the cellular integrated circuits may be adapted to handleWCDMA. For broadcast channels, each of the plurality of broadcastintegrated circuits may be adapted to handle at least one VHF/UHFchannel.

In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal may be adaptedto utilize a single broadcast integrated circuit for receiving andprocessing VHF/UHF channels, and a single cellular integrated circuitfor receiving and processing cellular or PCS channels. In this regard,the single cellular integrated circuit may be adapted to handledifferent cellular access technologies. For example, at least one of thecellular integrated circuit may be adapted to handle GSM, and at leastone of the cellular integrated circuits may be adapted to handle WCDMA.For broadcast channels, the single broadcast integrated circuit may beadapted to handle at least one VH/UHF channel. Each of the mobileterminals may comprise a single memory interface that may be adapted tohandle processing of the broadcast communication information andprocessing of cellular communication information. In this regard, anuplink cellular communication path may be utilized to facilitatereceiving of broadcast information via a broadcast communication path.

In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal may be adaptedto utilize a single integrated circuit for receiving and processingbroadcast VHF/UHF channels, and for receiving and processing cellular orPCS channels. In this regard, the single broadcast and cellularintegrated circuit may be adapted to handle different cellular accesstechnologies. For example, the single integrated circuit may comprise aplurality of modules each of which may be adapted to receive and processa particular cellular access technology or a VHF/UHF broadcast channel.Accordingly, a first module may be adapted to handle GSM, a secondmodule may be adapted to handle WCDMA, and a third module may be adaptedto handle at least one VHF/UHF channel.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 b, there isshown terrestrial broadcaster network 102, wireless service providernetwork 104, service provider 106, portal 108, public switched telephonenetwork 110, and mobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b. The terrestrialbroadcaster network 102 may comprise transmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer(Mux) 102 b, and VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b. AlthoughVHF/UHF broadcast antenna 112 b is illustrated separately from theterrestrial broadcast network 102, it may still be part of theterrestrial broadcast network 102. The wireless service provider network104 may comprise mobile switching center (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality ofcellular base stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The system of FIG. 1 b is somewhat similar to the FIG. 1 a with theexception that FIG. 1 b has the content source 114 located external tothe terrestrial broadcast network 102. The content source 114, which mayalso be referred to as a data carousel, may comprise audio, data andvideo content. At least a portion of the audio, data and/or videocontent stored in the content source 114 may be linked so that ifinformation cannot be retrieved from the content source 114, then it maybe received from the portal 108. In the system of FIG. 1 b, a providerother than the terrestrial broadcaster 102 may manage the content source114. Notwithstanding, the audio, video and/or data from the contentsource 114 may still be multiplexed by the multiplexer 102 b in theterrestrial broadcast network 114.

FIG. 1 c is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 c, there isshown terrestrial broadcaster network 102, wireless service providernetwork 104, portal 108, public switched telephone network 110, andmobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b. The terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may comprise transmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer (Mux) 102b, service provider 106, and VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b.The wireless service provider network 104 may comprise mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality of cellular base stations 104 a, 104b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The system of FIG. 1 c is somewhat similar to the FIG. 1 a with theexception that FIG. 1 b has the service provider 106 co-located with theterrestrial broadcast network 102. In this regard, the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 may control the functions of the service provider106. Since the terrestrial broadcast network 102 controls the functionsof the service provider, the broadcast services may be more efficientlyprovided to the mobile terminals via the MBMS path provided by thewireless service provider 104 and/or the VHF/UHF broadcast downlink pathprovided by the terrestrial broadcaster network 102. Hence, instead ofhaving to send information to an externally located service provider,the integrated control and logic services provided the terrestrialbroadcaster network 102 and service provider 106 may instantly makedecisions of how best to handle information for a mobile terminal.

FIG. 1 d is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 d, there isshown terrestrial broadcaster network 102, wireless service providernetwork 104, portal 108, public switched telephone network 110, andmobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b. The terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may comprise transmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer (Mux) 102b, and VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b. The wireless serviceprovider network 104 may comprise service provider 106, mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality of cellular base stations 104 a, 104b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The system of FIG. 1 d is somewhat similar to the FIG. 1 a with theexception that FIG. 1 b has the service provider 106 co-located with thewireless service provider network 104. In this regard, the wirelessservice provider network 104 may control the functions of the serviceprovider 106. Since the wireless service provider network 104 controlsthe functions of the service provider 106, the broadcast services may bemore efficiently provided to the mobile terminals via the MBMS pathprovided by the wireless service provider 104 and/or the VHF/UHFbroadcast downlink path provided by the terrestrial broadcaster network102. Hence, instead of having to send information to an externallylocated service provider 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1 a, the integratedcontrol and logic services provided the service provider 106 mayinstantly make decisions of how best to handle communication ofinformation for a mobile terminal.

In another embodiment of the invention, since many of the servicesprovided by the service provider 106 may already be integrated into thewireless service provider's 104 infrastructure, then the complexity ofthe service provider functions may be significantly reduced. Forexample, the wireless service provider 104, the latter of which alreadyhas the pertinent infrastructure in place, may now handle operationadministration maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P) functions, which maybe required by the service provider 106. Since the uplink capabilitiesare inherent in only the wireless service provider network 104, and theservice provider function are also located within the service providernetwork 106, the uplink capabilities for the mobile stations 116 a, 116b may be more efficiently managed from within the wireless serviceprovider network 104.

FIG. 1 e is a high-level block diagram of exemplary DVB-H receivercircuitry in a mobile terminal, which may be utilized in connection withan embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 e, there is shown amobile terminal 130. The mobile terminal 130 may comprise a DVB-Hdemodulator 132 and processing circuitry block 142. The DVB-Hdemodulator block 132 may comprise a DVB-T demodulator 134, time slicingblock 138, and MPE-FEC block 140.

The DVB-T demodulator 134 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/orcode that may be adapted to demodulate a terrestrial DVB signal. In thisregard, the DVB-T demodulator 134 may be adapted to downconvert areceived DVB-T signal to a suitable bit rate that may be handled by themobile terminal 130. The DVB-T demodulator may be adapted to handle 2 k,4 k and/or 8 k modes.

The time slicing block 138 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/orcode that may be adapted to minimize power consumption in the mobileterminal 130, particularly in the DVB-T demodulator 134. In general,time slicing reduces average power consumption in the mobile terminal bysending data in bursts via much higher instantaneous bit rates. In orderto inform the DVB-T demodulator 134 when a next burst is going to besent, a delta indicating the start of the next burst is transmittedwithin a current burst. During transmission, no data for an elementarystream (ES) is transmitted so as to allow other elementary streams tooptimally share the bandwidth. Since the DVB-T demodulator 134 knowswhen the next burst will be received, the DVB-T demodulator 134 mayenter a power saving mode between bursts in order to consume less power.Reference 144 indicates a control mechanism that handles the DVB-Tdemodulator 134 power via the time slicing block 138. The DVB-Tdemodulator 134 may also be adapted to utilize time slicing to monitordifferent transport streams from different channels. For example, theDVB-T demodulator 134 may utilize time slicing to monitor neighboringchannels between bursts to optimize handover.

The MPE-FEC block 140 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or codethat may be adapted to provide error correction during decoding. On theencoding side, MPE-FEC encoding provides improved carrier to noise ratio(C/N), improved Doppler performance, and improved tolerance tointerference resulting from impulse noise. During decoding, the MPE-FECblock 140 may be adapted to determine parity information from previouslyMPE-FEC encoded datagrams. As a result, during decoding, the MPE-FECblock 140 may generate datagrams that are error-free even in instanceswhen received channel conditions are poor. The processing circuitryblock 142 may comprise suitable processor, circuitry, logic and/or codethat may be adapted to process IP datagrams generated from an output ofthe MPE-FEC block 140. The processing circuitry block 142 may also beadapted to process transport stream packets from the DVB-T demodulator134.

In operation, the DVB-T demodulator 134 may be adapted to receive aninput DVB-T RF signal, demodulate the received input DVB-T RF signal soas to generate data at a much lower bit rate. In this regard, the DVB-Tdemodulator 134 recovers MPEG-2 transport stream (TS) packets from theinput DVB-T RF signal. The MPE-FEC block 140 may then correct any errorthat may be located in the data and the resulting IP datagrams may besent to the processing circuitry block 142 for processing. Transportstream packets from the DVB-T demodulator 134 may also be communicatedto the processing circuitry block 142 for processing.

FIG. 1 f is a block diagram illustrating the sharing of a multiplexer(MUX) by a plurality of MPEG2 services, which may be utilized inconnection with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 f,there is shown a transmitter block 150, a receiver block 151 and achannel 164. The transmitter block 150 may comprise a DVB-H encapsulatorblock 156, a multiplexer 158, and a DVB-T modulator 162. Also shownassociated with the transmitter block 150 is a plurality of service datacollectively referenced as 160. The receiver block 151 may comprise aDVB-H demodulator block 166 and a DVB-H decapsulation block 168. TheDVB-H encapsulator block 156 may comprise MPE block 156 a, MPE-FEC block156 b and time slicing block 156 c. The multiplexer 156 may comprisesuitable logic circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to handlemultiplexing of IP encapsulated DVB-H data and service data. Theplurality of service data collectively referenced as 160 may compriseMPEG-2 formatted data, which may comprise for example, audio, videoand/or data. The DVB-T modulator 162 may comprise suitable logiccircuitry and/or code that may be adapted to generate an output RFsignal from the transmitter block 150.

The DVB-H demodulator block 166 associated with the receiver block 151is similar to the DVB-H demodulator block 132 of FIG. 1 e. The DVB-Hdecapsulation block 168 may comprise MPE block 168 a, MPE-FEC block 168b and time slicing block 168 c. The DVB-H decapsulation block 168 maycomprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapteddecapsulate the IP data that was encapsulated and multiplexed by thetransmitter block 150. The output of the DVB-H demodulator 166 is thetransport stream packets, which comprised the multiplexed outputgenerated by the multiplexer 158.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of a mobile terminal that is adapted toreceive VHF/UHF broadcasts and cellular communications, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 a, there isshown mobile terminal (MT) or handset 202. The mobile terminal 202 maycomprise multiplexer (MUX) 204 and processing circuitry 206.

The multiplexer 204 may comprise suitable logic circuitry and/or codethat may be adapted to multiplex incoming signals, which may compriseVHF/UHF broadcast channel and at least one cellular channel. Thecellular channel may be within the range of both cellular and PCSfrequency bands.

The processing circuitry 206 may comprise, for example, an RF integratedcircuit (RFIC) or RF front end (RFFE). In this regard, the processingcircuitry 206 may comprise at least one receiver front end (RFE)circuit. A first of these circuits may be adapted to handle processingof the VHF/UHF broadcast channel and a second of these circuits may beadapted to handle a cellular channel. In an embodiment of the invention,a single RFIC may comprise a plurality of RFE processing circuits, eachof which may be adapted to process a particular cellular channel.Accordingly, a single RFIC comprising a plurality of cellular RFEprocessing circuits may be adapted to handle a plurality of cellularchannels. In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of VHF/UHF RFEprocessing circuits may be integrated in a single RFIC. In this regard,a mobile terminal may be adapted to simultaneously handle a plurality ofdifferent VHF/UHF channels. For example, a mobile terminal may beadapted to simultaneously receive a first VHF/UHF channel bearing videoand a second VHF/UHF channel bearing audio.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram illustrating receive processing circuit ofan RF integrated circuit (RFIC), in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 2 b, there is shown antenna 211, receiverfront end (RFE) circuit 210, and baseband processing block 224. Thereceiver front end (RFE) circuit 210 may comprise a low noise amplifier(LNA) 212, a mixer 214, an oscillator 216, a low noise amplifier oramplifier or amplifier 218, a transmit path bandpass filter 220 and ananalog-to-digital converter (A/D) 222.

The antenna 211 may be adapted to receive at least one of a plurality ofsignals. For example, the antenna 211 may be adapted to receive aplurality of signals in the GSM band, a plurality of signals in theWCDMA and and/or a plurality of signals in the VHF/UHF band. U.S.application Ser. No. 11/011,006, filed Dec. 13, 2007 and U.S.application Ser. No. 11/010,487, filed Dec. 13, 2004 disclose variousantenna configurations that may be utilized for a plurality of operatingfrequency bands.

The receiver front end (RFE) circuit 210 may comprise suitablecircuitry, logic and/or code that may be adapted to convert a receivedRF signal down to baseband. An input of the low noise amplifier 212 maybe coupled to the antenna 211 so that it may receive RF signals from theantenna 211. The low noise amplifier 212 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to receive an input RF signalfrom the antenna 211 and amplify the received RF signal in such a mannerthat an output signal generated by the low noise amplifier 212 has avery little additional noise.

The mixer 214 in the RFE circuit 210 may comprise suitable circuitryand/or logic that may be adapted to mix an output of the low noiseamplifier 212 with an oscillator signal generated by the oscillator 216.The oscillator 216 may comprise suitable circuitry and/or logic that maybe adapted to provide a oscillating signal that may be adapted to mixthe output signal generated from the output of the low noise amplifier212 down to a baseband. The low noise amplifier (LNA) or amplifier 218may comprise suitable circuitry and/or logic that may be adapted to lownoise amplify and output signal generated by the mixer 214. An output ofthe low noise amplifier or amplifier 218 may be communicated to thetransmit path bandpass filter 220. The transmit path bandpass filter 220may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adaptedto transmit path bandpass filter the output signal generated from theoutput of the low noise amplifier 220. The transmit path bandpass filterblock 220 retains a desired signal and filters out unwanted signalcomponents such as higher signal components comprising noise. An outputof the transmit path bandpass filter 220 may be communicated to theanalog-digital-converter for processing.

The analog-to-digital converter (A/D) 222 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to convert the analog signalgenerated from the output of the transmit path bandpass filter 220 to adigital signal. The analog-to-digital converter 222 may generate asampled digital representation of the transmit path bandpass filteredsignal that may be communicated to the baseband-processing block 224 forprocessing. The baseband processing block 224 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to process digitalbaseband signals received form an output of the A/D 222. Although theA/D 222 is illustrated as part of the RFE circuit 210, the invention maynot be so limited. Accordingly, the A/D 222 may be integrated as part ofthe baseband processing block 224. In operation, the RFE circuit 210 isadapted to receive RF signals via antenna 211 and convert the receivedRF signals to a sampled digital representation, which may becommunicated to the baseband processing block 224 for processing.

FIG. 3 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration for a RFIC and a base band processing circuit, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3,there is shown RFIC 330 and baseband circuitry 332. The RFIC 330comprises a plurality of RF processing circuits 330 a, 330 b, 330 c and330 n. The RF processing circuits 330 a, 330 b, 330 c and 330 n may beintegrated in a single integrated circuit (IC) or chip. The basebandprocessing circuitry 332 comprises a plurality of baseband processingcircuits 332 a, 332 b, 332 c and 332 n. The baseband processing circuits332 a, 332 b, 332 c and 332 n may be integrated into a single integratedcircuit (IC) or chip.

In operation, each of the RF processing circuits in the RFIC 330 may beadapted to process a single channel. For example, each of the RFprocessing circuits 330 a, 330 b and 330 c may be adapted to processseparate cellular channel, namely, channel 1, channel 2 and channel(n-1), respectively. The RF processing circuit 330 n many be adapted toprocess a VHF/UHF broadcast channel n.

Each of the baseband processing circuits in the baseband processingcircuitry 330 may be adapted to process a single channel. For example,each of the baseband processing circuits 332 a, 332 b and 332 c may beadapted to process separate cellular channels, namely, channel 1,channel 2 and channel (n-1), respectively. The RF processing circuit 332n may be adapted to process a VHF/UHF broadcast channel n. Use of asingle RFIC and a single baseband processing integrated circuit saves onthe size of the processing circuitry, which may significantly reducecost.

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver singleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referringto FIG. 4 a, there is shown a WCDMA/HSDPA radio frequency integratedcircuit (RFIC) 410, a GSM RFIC 412, a DVB RFIC 414, a power amplifier416, a low noise amplifier 418, a plurality of receive path bandpassfilters BPF 420 a and BPF 420 b, a plurality of transmit path bandpassfilters BPF 422 a and BPF 422 b, a plurality of switches 424 a and 424b, a diplexer 426, a plurality of polyphase filters 428 a, 428 b and 428c and an antenna 430.

The WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/orcode that may be adapted to receive and transmit a WCDMA/HSDPA channelto process RF voice, data and/or control information. This channel maybe divided into overlapping physical and logical channels. The physicalchannels may be uniquely defined by spreading codes and the logicalchannels, for example, control, voice and data channels may comprise agroup of bits, frames and fields. The GSM RFIC 412 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to receive and transmita plurality of RF channels in the 900 MHz and the 1800 MHz band, forexample. The radio channel structure for a GSM mobile station may befrequency division duplex (FDD), for example. By utilizing the FDDchannel division, where data may be transmitted on one frequency andreceived on another frequency, the mobile terminal may receive andtransmit at different times. The radio frequency separation of forward(downlink) and reverse (uplink) frequencies on the 900 MHz band may be45 MHz, for example. The transmit band for the base station may be 935MHz-960 MHz, for example, and the transmit band for the mobile terminalmay be 890 MHz-915 MHz, for example. Similarly, the transmit band forthe base station in the 1800 MHz band may be 1805 MHz-1880 MHz, forexample, and the transmit band for the mobile terminal in the 1800 MHzband may be 1710 MHz-1785 MHz, for example. The DVB RFIC 414 maycomprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted toreceive and deliver multimedia and other data to a mobile terminal via aVHF/UHF broadcast channel, for example. The payload utilized by DVB-Hmay be either IP datagrams or other network layer datagrams encapsulatedinto multiprotocol encapsulated sections.

The power amplifier 416 may be adapted to provide a high output currentto drive an antenna, which may be a low-impedance load and may beadapted to amplify the signal received from the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 andtransmit it to the polyphase filter 428 a. The low noise amplifier LNA418 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may beadapted to amplify the output of the polyphase filter 428 b. The receivepath bandpass filters 420 a and 420 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to filter the receivedcellular broadcast channels in the 1800 MHz band and 900 MHz bandrespectively. The receive path bandpass filter 420 a may be adapted tooutput frequencies within digital cellular system (DCS) 1800 band, whichmay provide a GSM downlink in the range of about 1805 MHz-1880 MHz. Thereceive path bandpass filter 420 b may be adapted to output frequencieswithin GSM 900 band, which may provide GSM downlink signals in the rangeof about 925 MHz-960 MHz, for example. The transmit path bandpassfilters 422 a and 422 b may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/orcode that may be adapted to filter the transmitted cellular broadcastchannels in the 1800 MHz band and 900 MHz band respectively.

The switch 424 a may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or codethat may be adapted to switch between a transmit or receive channel forthe WCDMA and GSM 1800 MHz band channels. The switch 424 b may comprisesuitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to switchbetween a transmit or receive channel for the GSM 900 MHz band channeland a receive channel for the DVB broadcast channel. The diplexer 426may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adaptedto parallely feed a single antenna, for example, antenna 430 to twotransmitters at the same or different frequencies without thetransmitters interfering with each other and may couple a transmitterand receiver to the same antenna, for example, antenna 430 for use inmobile communications.

The polyphase filters 428 a, 428 b and 428 c may be adapted toselectively filter signals without the need of using high Q bandpasssections. Selectivity may be ensured by utilizing polyphase signals anda plurality of low-pass filter sections where matching driven powerconsumption is a variable. The polyphase filter 428 a may be adapted toreceive the amplified output from the power amplifier 416 and generate aquad wavelength (λ/4) output to the switch 424 a by selectivelyfiltering the WCDMA transmit channel. The polyphase filter 428 b may beadapted to receive the quad wavelength (λ/4) output of the switch 424 aand generate an output to the LNA 418. The polyphase filter 428 c may beadapted to receive the amplified output from the LNA 418 and generate anoutput to the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410. The antenna 430 may be adapted totransmit and receive signals to the diplexer 426.

The antenna 430 may be coupled to the diplexer 426. The diplexer 426 maybe coupled to a plurality of switches for example, 424 a and 424 b. Theswitch 424 a may be adapted to switch between one or more states. In onestate, for example, the switch 424 a may be coupled to the polyphasefilters 428 a and 428 b in the WCDMA 2100 MHz band transmit and receivechannels respectively and the receive path bandpass filter 420 a in theGSM 1800 MHz band receive channel. In another state, for example, theswitch 424 a may be coupled to the transmit path bandpass filter 422 ain the GSM 1800 MHz band transmit channel. The switch 424 b may beadapted to switch between one or more states. In one state, for example,the switch 424 b may be coupled to the receive path bandpass filter 420b that may be adapted to output frequencies within GSM 900 MHz band. Inanother state, for example, the switch 424 b may be coupled to thetransmit path bandpass filter 422 b in the GSM 900 MHz band transmitchannel. In another state, for example, the switch 424 b may be coupledto the DVB RFIC 414 via the VHF/UHF broadcast channel.

The WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 may be coupled to the power amplifier 416 inthe transmit section of the WCDMA channel and may be coupled to thepolyphase filter 428 c in the receive section of the WCDMA channel. Theoutput of the power amplifier 416 may be coupled to the polyphase filter428 a. The LNA 418 may be coupled to the output of the polyphase filter428 b and the input of the polyphase filter 428 c. The GSM RFIC 412 maybe coupled to the output of the receive path BPF 420 a in the GSM 1800MHz band receive channel and may be coupled to the input of the transmitpath BPF 422 a in the 1800 MHz transmit channel. The GSM RFIC 412 may befurther coupled to the output of the receive path BPF 420 b in the GSM900 MHz band receive channel and may be coupled to the input of thetransmit path BPF 422 b in the 900 MHz transmit channel.

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver dual antennaarchitecture for European band cellular and broadcasting services with aseparate antenna for the DVB channel, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. FIG. 4 b is similar to FIG. 4 a, except that the DVBRFIC 414 may be decoupled from the switch 424 b and may be coupleddirectly to the antenna 430.

FIG. 4 c is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver dual antennaarchitecture for European band cellular and broadcasting services and adiplexer, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 c issimilar to FIG. 4 a, except that the diplexer 426 may be removed and theswitches 424 a and 424 b may be directly coupled to the antennas 432 and434 respectively.

FIG. 4 d is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices and a diplexer and a separate antenna for the DVB channel, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 d is similar toFIG. 4 c, except that the DVB RFIC 414 may be decoupled from the switch424 b and may be coupled directly to the antenna 434.

FIG. 4 e is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices with separate antennas for the WCDMA 2100 MHz band channel, theGSM 1800 MHz band transmit channel, the GSM 900 MHz band channel and theDVB channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 eis similar to FIG. 4 d, except that the antenna 432 and the switch 424 amay be removed. The antenna 436 may be coupled to the polyphase filters428 a and 428 b in the WCDMA 2100 MHz band transmit and receive channelrespectively and the receive path bandpass filter 420 a in the GSM 1800MHz band receive channel. The antenna 438 may be coupled to the transmitpath bandpass filter 422 a in the GSM 1800 MHz band transmit channel.The switch 424 b and the antenna 434 may be replaced with the switch 424and the antenna 440 respectively. The switch 424 may be adapted toswitch between one or more states. In one state, for example, the switch424 may be coupled to the receive path bandpass filter 420 b in thereceive channel that may be adapted to output frequencies within GSM 900MHz band. In another state, for example, the switch 424 b may be coupledto the transmit path bandpass filter 422 b in the GSM 900 MHz bandtransmit channel. The antenna 434 may be replaced with the antenna 444.The antenna 444 may be coupled to the DVB RFIC 414 via the DVB channel.

FIG. 4 f is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices with separate antennas for the WCDMA 2100 MHz band channel, theGSM 1800 MHz band transmit channel, the GSM 900 MHz band receivechannel, the GSM 900 MHz band transmit channel and the DVB channel, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 f is similar toFIG. 4 e, except that the switch 424 and antenna 440 may be removed. Theantenna 446 may be coupled to the receive path bandpass filter 420 b inthe receive channel that may be adapted to output frequencies within GSM900 MHz band. The antenna 448 may be coupled to the transmit pathbandpass filter 422 b in the GSM 900 MHz band transmit channel.

FIG. 4 g is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for European band cellular and broadcastingservices with separate antennas for the WCDMA 2100 MHz band transmitchannel, the WCDMA 2100 MHz band receive channel, the GSM 1800 MHz bandreceive channel, the GSM 1800 MHz band transmit channel, the GSM 900 MHzband receive channel, the GSM 900 MHz band transmit channel and the DVBchannel, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 g issimilar to FIG. 4 f, except that the antenna 436 may be replaced withthree antennas, for example, antennas 452, 450 and 436. The antenna 452may be coupled directly to the polyphase filter 428 a in the WCDMA 2100MHz band transmit channel. The antenna 450 may be coupled directly tothe polyphase filter 428 b in the WCDMA 2100 MHz band receive channel.The antenna 436 may be coupled directly to the receive path bandpassfilter 420 a in the GSM 1800 MHz band receive channel.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A system for processing signals in a plurality ofdifferent RF bands, the system comprising: a first radio frequencyintegrated circuit (RFIC) that receives RF signals in a first cellularfrequency band of a first cellular network via an antenna, wherein saidantenna is coupled to a second RFIC operable to handle received RFsignals in a UHF broadcast band.
 26. The system according to claim 25,wherein said antenna is coupled to a third RFIC operable to handlereceived RF signals in one or more other cellular frequency bands of atleast a second cellular network.
 27. The system according to claim 26,wherein said third RFIC is a GSM RFIC.
 28. The system according to claim26, wherein said one or more other cellular frequency bands is one orboth of: a 1800 MHz band and/or a 900 MHz band.
 29. The system accordingto claim 25, wherein said first cellular frequency band is 2100 MHz. 30.The system according to claim 25, wherein said second RFIC is operableto handle received RF signals in a VHF broadcast band.
 31. The systemaccording to claim 25, wherein said first RFIC is a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC.32. The system according to claim 25, wherein said second RFIC is a DVBRFIC.
 33. The system according to claim 25, comprising a diplexer thatenables diplexing said RF signals received via said antenna.
 34. Amethod for processing signals in a plurality of different RF bands, themethod comprising: receiving at a first radio frequency integratedcircuit (RFIC) via an antenna, RF signals in a first cellular frequencyband of a first cellular network; and receiving at a second RFIC viasaid antenna, RF signals in a UHF broadcast band.
 35. The methodaccording to claim 34, receiving at a third RFIC via said antenna, RFsignals in one or more other cellular frequency bands of at least asecond cellular network.
 36. The method according to claim 35, whereinsaid third RFIC is a GSM RFIC.
 37. The method according to claim 35,wherein said one or more other cellular frequency bands is one or bothof: a 1800 MHz band and/or a 900 MHz band.
 38. The method according toclaim 34, wherein said first cellular frequency band is 2100 MHz. 39.The method according to claim 34, wherein said second RFIC is operableto handle received RF signals in a VHF broadcast band.
 40. The methodaccording to claim 34, wherein said first RFIC is a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC.41. The method according to claim 34, wherein said second RFIC is a DVBRFIC.
 42. The method according to claim 34, comprising diplexing said RFsignals received via said antenna.
 43. A machine-readable storage havingstored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section forprocessing signals in a plurality of different RF bands, the at leastone code section being executable by a machine for causing the machineto perform steps comprising: receiving at a first radio frequencyintegrated circuit (RFIC) via an antenna, RF signals in a first cellularfrequency band of a first cellular network; and receiving at a secondRFIC via said antenna, RF signals in a UHF broadcast band.
 44. Themachine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at leastone code section comprises code for receiving at a third RFIC via saidantenna, RF signals in one or more other cellular frequency bands of atleast a second cellular network.
 45. The machine-readable storageaccording to claim 44, wherein said third RFIC is a GSM RFIC.
 46. Themachine-readable storage according to claim 44, wherein said one or moreother cellular frequency bands is one or both of: a 1800 MHz band and/ora 900 MHz band.
 47. The machine-readable storage according to claim 43,wherein said first cellular frequency band is 2100 MHz.
 48. Themachine-readable storage according to claim 43, wherein said second RFICis operable to handle received RF signals in a VHF broadcast band. 49.The machine-readable storage according to claim 43, wherein said firstRFIC is a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC.
 50. The machine-readable storage accordingto claim 43, wherein said second RFIC is a DVB RFIC.
 51. Themachine-readable storage according to claim 43, wherein said at leastone code section comprises code for diplexing said RF signals receivedvia said antenna.